Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation may promote the reversion of mild cognitive impairment to normal cognition

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the potential effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the reversion of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to normal cognitive function and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.MethodsThe study enrolled 25 MCI participants, who underwent...

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Main Authors: Zhiwei Guo, Yi Jiang, Jiayuan He, Ning Jiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychiatry
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1544728/full
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author Zhiwei Guo
Zhiwei Guo
Yi Jiang
Jiayuan He
Ning Jiang
author_facet Zhiwei Guo
Zhiwei Guo
Yi Jiang
Jiayuan He
Ning Jiang
author_sort Zhiwei Guo
collection DOAJ
description PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the potential effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the reversion of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to normal cognitive function and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.MethodsThe study enrolled 25 MCI participants, who underwent a 10-day of rTMS treatment and an 18-month follow-up, along with 15 healthy subjects. Participants with MCI were categorized into MCI reverters (MCI-R) and MCI maintainers (MCI-M). We assessed differences in baseline cognitive performance, functional connectivity, and changes of cognitive functions after rTMS between MCI-R and MCI-M to identify possible predictors of reversion of MCI and explore the neural modulation mechanisms.ResultsMCI-M exhibited more severe cognitive impairments across more domains, particularly in language function (p < 0.05). Functional connectivity was more severely damaged in MCI-M participants, notably within the default mode network (DMN), executive control network (ECN), and frontoparietal network (FPN). After rTMS therapy, MCI-R participants demonstrated more significantly improved immediate and delayed recall memory scores (p < 0.05). These memory function changes and baseline functional connectivity of DMN, ECN, and FPN were predictive of the reversion of MCI.ConclusionsThe efficacy of rTMS in memory function may promote the reversion of MCI to normal cognition, with the functional connectivity of DMN, ECN, and FPN playing a crucial important role. The severity of cognitive impairment and functional connectivity damage correlated with the likelihood of the reversion of MCI to normal cognition, underscoring the importance of early rTMS intervention for dementia prevention.
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spelling doaj-art-08fcae598bb541b9b5f22db9090a6af92025-08-20T03:04:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-04-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.15447281544728Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation may promote the reversion of mild cognitive impairment to normal cognitionZhiwei Guo0Zhiwei Guo1Yi Jiang2Jiayuan He3Ning Jiang4National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaInstitute of Rehabilitation and Imaging of Brain Function, The Second Clinical Medical College of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, ChinaNational Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaNational Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaNational Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaPurposeThis study aimed to investigate the potential effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the reversion of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to normal cognitive function and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.MethodsThe study enrolled 25 MCI participants, who underwent a 10-day of rTMS treatment and an 18-month follow-up, along with 15 healthy subjects. Participants with MCI were categorized into MCI reverters (MCI-R) and MCI maintainers (MCI-M). We assessed differences in baseline cognitive performance, functional connectivity, and changes of cognitive functions after rTMS between MCI-R and MCI-M to identify possible predictors of reversion of MCI and explore the neural modulation mechanisms.ResultsMCI-M exhibited more severe cognitive impairments across more domains, particularly in language function (p < 0.05). Functional connectivity was more severely damaged in MCI-M participants, notably within the default mode network (DMN), executive control network (ECN), and frontoparietal network (FPN). After rTMS therapy, MCI-R participants demonstrated more significantly improved immediate and delayed recall memory scores (p < 0.05). These memory function changes and baseline functional connectivity of DMN, ECN, and FPN were predictive of the reversion of MCI.ConclusionsThe efficacy of rTMS in memory function may promote the reversion of MCI to normal cognition, with the functional connectivity of DMN, ECN, and FPN playing a crucial important role. The severity of cognitive impairment and functional connectivity damage correlated with the likelihood of the reversion of MCI to normal cognition, underscoring the importance of early rTMS intervention for dementia prevention.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1544728/fullAlzheimer’s diseasefunctional connectivitycognitive reversionmild cognitive impairmentresting state network
spellingShingle Zhiwei Guo
Zhiwei Guo
Yi Jiang
Jiayuan He
Ning Jiang
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation may promote the reversion of mild cognitive impairment to normal cognition
Frontiers in Psychiatry
Alzheimer’s disease
functional connectivity
cognitive reversion
mild cognitive impairment
resting state network
title Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation may promote the reversion of mild cognitive impairment to normal cognition
title_full Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation may promote the reversion of mild cognitive impairment to normal cognition
title_fullStr Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation may promote the reversion of mild cognitive impairment to normal cognition
title_full_unstemmed Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation may promote the reversion of mild cognitive impairment to normal cognition
title_short Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation may promote the reversion of mild cognitive impairment to normal cognition
title_sort repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation may promote the reversion of mild cognitive impairment to normal cognition
topic Alzheimer’s disease
functional connectivity
cognitive reversion
mild cognitive impairment
resting state network
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1544728/full
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